CAMPAIGNERS reacted with disgust after councillors voted unanimously in favour of selling off an Ottershaw play park for potential development.

Despite the presence of disgruntled residents waving signs emblazoned with slogans like ‘save our park’, the recommendation to proceed with the sale of the land in Palmer Crescent was passed.

Protesters yelled "shame on you" as they left the council chamber following a meeting of Runnymede’s corporate management committee at the Civic Centre in Addlestone last Thursday (January 5).

Speaking afterwards, campaigners said they were "disgusted" at the decision.

Annie Wade, who lives in Franklands Drive, Row Town, said: “I think they are a disgrace and I think the council is a disgrace. They have not listened to the residents.

“There is nowhere else for the children to go and have a kickabout. They are forcing parents with very small children to cross a very busy road to get to the Memorial Fields.

“If they listened to the letters and the arguments put forward, then there should have been a different outcome. It’s not all about money all the time.”

The council is seeking permission to build 12 houses on the patch of land but the application for that is yet to be approved.

Permission was originally sought for 14 homes but two were dropped from the plans in order to retain ‘sufficient land’ to keep a play area on-site, albeit not necessarily the same size as the current one.

Andrew Telford, chairman of the Campaign to Protect Rural England for Runnymede, said: “I think they are putting money ahead of children. We will have another go at the planning stage and make representations.

“We live in a democracy don’t we, so one would hope the councillors had an eye on the next election and bear in mind that approximately 500 people objected to this and that is potentially 500 votes they might not get next year.”

The council received a total of 492 responses to its initial advert signalling the potential sale of the land.

Mother-of-two Sue Lewis, who lives in Palmer Crescent, said she would continue to fight the plans, adding: “I’m very disappointed. We will keep going as long as we have a chance.”